Muzeum Kultury Ludowej w Osieku nad Notecią

About the museum

The Muzeum Kultury Ludowej (Museum of Folk Culture) in Osiek nad Notecią is a branch of the Muzeum Okręgowe w Pile (Regional Museum in Piła) and was established in 1979. Its history began with archaeology: in 1972 a cist grave with several urns was discovered by chance on the site of today’s open-air museum, and excavations in 1972–1977 revealed 581 burials. The finds are displayed in pavilions belonging to the museum.

The open-air museum covers about 13 hectares and presents the rural culture of northern Greater Poland. It collects buildings from Krajna, Pałuki and the Noteć Forest (Puszcza Nadnotecka), both wooden and brick. The exhibition includes, among others, cottages from Dźwierszno Wielkie, Marylin, Głubczyn and Przysieczyn, a farmstead from Czajcz from the 1930s, a fire station from Błękwit, and three windmills: a paltrak from Żelice, a koźlak from Chojna and a Dutch-type mill (holender) from Gromadno. The oldest object is a forge from Kamiennik from the end of the 17th century.

The museum organises ethnographic demonstrations, workshops (bread, pottery, soap, candles, gingerbread and seasonal handicrafts), museum lessons and open-air events. A café called “Pod wiatrakami” (By the Windmills) operates on the grounds.

Highlights

• 28 objects, including cottages, a farmstead and a fire station
• three windmills: paltrak, koźlak and holender
• forge from Kamiennik from the end of the 17th century
• archaeological pavilions with a burial ground from many centuries ago
• ethnographic demonstrations and craft workshops
• café “Pod wiatrakami” (By the Windmills)

Permanent exhibitions

• Zabudowa wsi Krajny – Cottages from the 18th and 19th centuries, a farmstead from the 1930s, a fire station and a forge from the end of the 17th century, relocated to the open-air museum.
• Wiatraki – Three windmills: a paltrak from Żelice, a koźlak from Chojna from 1865 and a holender from Gromadno from the 1890s.
• Wystawa archeologiczna – Finds from the burial ground discovered on the open-air museum grounds, displayed in the archaeological pavilions.

Founded

1979

Operated by

Muzeum Okręgowe w Pile

Admission & discounts

Demonstrations are charged additionally per person: butter churning with tasting PLN 8, baking of wafers (opłatki) PLN 4, threshing PLN 3, flax processing PLN 6.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: not available
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The road by the gate is steep, so a wheelchair user needs a companion; the paths on the grounds are not paved. The ticket office and café building is single-storey with no steps, and the toilet in a separate building has an entrance and a cubicle for wheelchair users. The historic cottages have barriers, but staff help at the entrance. There are no induction loops; the accessibility statement dates from 2020.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum runs workshops, museum lessons and ethnographic shows; a family ticket is available.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café

Café “Pod wiatrakami” on the grounds of the open-air museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit